Case explaining effects of consuming excess supplements/protein powder.
My client, aged 22 years, had complaints of
- Excessive tiredness and fatigue
- Disturbed gut
- Bloating and gas
- Hair fall
- Breakouts on skin
Upon checking her blood work, it was observed as follows:
Blood work:
- Low Haemoglobin 11.5 gm/dL (normal range 12.5-16)
- Insufficient Vitamin D- 28.72 ng/ml (sufficiency 30-100)
- High Vitamin B12 level 842.7 pg/mL (211-911 range)
She was following a healthy lifestyle, including,
- Eating balanced meals containing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat.
- No smoking
- No alcohol
- Strict and intense exercise regime -6 days a week
- She was missing breakfast whenever she was late for work (3-4 times a week min)
- She had long working hours- on site, so she had to stand or walk more.
- She was consuming protein powder and various vitamin supplements, including vitamin b12, vitamin C, vitamin D and more, for her skin, hair loss, strength, immunity, etc.
After analysing her daily routine, it was clear that her eating habits were good. She was trying to remain active and exercising, but her digestive system was not supporting her. She felt bloated, heavy, and gassy. She was not able to wake up fresh in the morning.
She said I am always tired. Her skin became sensitive and was breaking out with the slightest change in weather.
She kept taking all possible supplements and protein powder to improve, but she has not observed any positive change.
Where was the miss?
In simple language,
The primary issue was about “doing too much”. Consuming loads of supplements and protein powder was heavy for her digestive system. But she feared that without taking supplements, her body wouldn’t be able to recover.
Only one change was recommended: “to stop all supplements, and protein powder and observe for five days”.
Feedback/ Result:
In my second session with her, after two weeks, I observed the first change in her facial skin. It was glowing. She said with a smile, Preeti, I am feeling much better.
Her digestive system improved after two weeks of stopping excess supplements and protein powder. Her skin improved. Bloating and gas problem was reduced. In that session, we discussed balancing the plate with the right portion of protein, carbohydrate, and fat. We discussed natural protein sources and how to add them to her daily diet.
It was recommended that she change her diet accordingly and fill her nutrition with only natural sources.
In my third session, I observed her body healed noticeably. Her skin started to glow, hair fall stopped completely, bloating/ gas was zero, and sleep improved. There were no breakouts, even during her periods. We worked on her exercise regime, and a few more recommendations were given.
She is on the path to speedy recovery with just a few changes in her lifestyle.
PS: Don’t do too much, especially when consuming commercial products to improve health. “Natural is better any day!”
